Clip for rails



J. W. BRUNDAGE.

CUP FOR RAMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I8. 191s.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. BRUNDAGE, OF AKRON, OHIO.

CLIP FOR RAILS.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed August 18', 1919. Serial No. 318,120.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, J AMES W. BRUNDAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clips for Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of railways and the object thereof is to provide a quick, serviceable and easily manipulated means for securing a rail to a metallic sleeper.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment ofthe. invention, but it is "to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the matter hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the different figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sleeper or tie and a rail in position thereon with one of my improved clamping members in position for securing the rail to the sleeper and the other member in its inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2 of F ig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the clamping members used for securing a rail to a sleeper.

The invention comprises primarily a clamping member for securing an ordinarily constructed railroad rail to a tie or sleeper and in the drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes the head of the rail, the reference numeral 2, the web, and the reference numerals 3 the flanges of the rail.

The sleeper illustrated in the drawings comprises an upper wall 4, side walls 5 and preferably a lower or bottom wall 6. The upper wall 4 of the sleeper is provided with two slots 7 which are positioned at an angle to the side walls of the sleeper and disposed in spaced relation, the space between the slots 7 corresponding to the width of the flanged portion of the rail. The slots 7 are preferably arranged in parallelism and are provided with rounded ends. These slots are disposed so that when a rail is positioned upon the upper face of the wall 4 of the sleeper they will be equally distant from the edges of the bottom flanges 3 of the rail but n uxtaposition thereto. The upper Wall 4: 15 provided adjacent to each slot 7 with an opening 8 usually cylindrical in outline.

The clamping members employed are similar and a description of one is believed to be sufficient. Each clamping member comprises a main body portion 9 from which extends a contracted or neck shaped portion 10 having a reduced terminus from which extends a pin 12. The front or working end 13 of the body portion 9 is fashioned with an inclined face 14. extending upwardly from the under face thereof toward the up per face. Formed integrally with the main body portion 9 is a neck 15 on which is a head 16' which conforms in general contour to the shape of the head 9, that is to say, it is elongated in outline with relatively straight sides and has greater length longitudinally of the body portion 9 than its width. The width of each head 16 is such that it may be inserted in one of the slots 7. When the clamping member is properly positioned with respect to slot 7 and during the positioning of the clamping member; the working edge 14 of the clamping member M is out of contact with a flange 3. In order to lock theclamping member in position and at the same time clamp the rail to the sleeper the locking member is given a partial rotation which automatically moves it to the end of the slot farthest from the rail flange 3 and causes the inclined under face 14 of the clamping member to engage the flange of the rail as shown in the drawings and at the same time the extended end 11 is shifted into a position to bring a pin 12 over one of the openings 8 in the upper wall 4 of the sleeper. In this position a blow on the upper face of the clamping member over the pin 12 seats the same in the opening 8 thereby locking the clamping member against unintentional movement.

It will be apparent that in shifting the position of the clamping member considerable force may be required in order to force the inclined face 14 over the flange of the railand set up sufiicient wedging action to firmly clamp the under face of the rail against the upper face of the wall 4 of the sleeper. When in position the clamping member acts to hold the rail firmly against lateral movement while at the same time permitting a slight amount of creeping which is incident and usual to railroad rails.

While I have described a particular form of sleeper it is to be understood that my invention is applicable to any form of sleeper which will present a suitable upper wall, such as an I beam. It will also be apparent that the device can be-used in other steel construction work, such as bridges or in the construction of steel framework of buildings.

I claim,

1. The combination with a rail and a sleeper said sleeper provided with slots in its upper wall, of a clamping member comprising a head having an extension from the under face of which projects a pin arranged to engage in a suitable aperture in said wall when said clamping member is in its operative position said head provided with a T-shaped projection adapted to be inserted in one of said slots and then rotated to interlock with the upper face of one of the rail flanges, the engagement with the rail flange being substantially simultaneous with the engagement of said pin in the aperture in the sleeper, the latter engagement locking the member from movement.

2. The combination with a flanged rail and a sleeper, the upper face of the sleeper havin slots diagonal to the sides of said sleeper and apertures adjacent to said slots, of a clamping member for securing said rail in position, said member embodying a head arranged when rotated to engage a flange of said rail and a T-shaped projeclion on said head adapted to be inserted in one of said slots when in one position and when said head is rotated to an operative position to engage and interlock with said sleeper.

3. The combination with a flanged rail and-a sleeper the upper face of the sleeper havingslots diagonal to the slides of said sleeper, and apertures adjacent to said slots,

of a clamping member for securing said rail in position, said member embodying a head arranged when rotated to engage a flange of said rail and a T-shaped projection on said head adapted to be inserted in one of said slots when in one position and when said head is rotated to an operative position to engage and interlock said sleeper and means to lock said clamp in its operative position.

4. The combination with a flanged rail and a sleeper the upper face of the sleeper having slots diagonal to the sides of said sleeper, and apertures adjacent to said slots, of a clamping member for securing said rail in position, said member embodying a head arranged when rotated to engage a flange of said rail and a T-shaped projection on said head adapted to be inserted in one of said slots when in one position and when said head is rotated to an operative position to engage and interlock with said sleeper, means to lock said clamp in its operative position, said means comprising a pin carried by the non-railengaging end of said clamp arranged to engage in a suitably positioned aperture in the upper wall of said sleeper.

5. The combination with a sleeper and a rail supported thereby,said sleeper provided with a slot adjacent to the flange of the rail, a clamping member embodying a head having the under face of one end thereof inclined for engagement with a flange of said rail the under-face of said head also provided with a T-shaped extension arranged when rotated to interlock with said sleeper the opposite end of said clamping member being provided with a pin arranged to be inserted in a suitable opening in said sleeper for holding said clamp ing member against unintentional movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand. 1 y JAMES W. BRUNDAGE. 

